Before and after surgery

Finding the right location for your stoma

If your surgery is planned, your Stomal Therapy Nurse can help choose the best location for your stoma. Your Stomal Therapy Nurse will take several things into consideration. For example, your body shape, how your abdomen changes when you are sitting, standing, and lying down, as well as what you do for a living, the type of clothing you wear, how active you are and the activities you enjoy.

It is important to talk about the location of your stoma with your Stomal Therapy Nurse, and when the location has been marked, check to see if you will be able to see and reach your stoma without too much difficulty. This is important as you will need to be able to easily access your stoma every day to change your ostomy appliance.

If you have further questions prior to your surgery, ask your surgeon to refer you to a Stomal Therapy Nurse.

Waking up after surgery

As you wake up after your surgery, you will feel tired and a little disoriented. Try to remember that you are in very good hands and will have close guidance every step of the way.

You will already be wearing your first ostomy pouch. Most likely this will be see-through or transparent, allowing you and the nurses to see the stoma and the contents in the pouch.

Before you leave hospital, your Stomal Therapy Nurse will discuss options to go home with to suit your needs – including bags that are not see-through.

You could also have various tubes and drains attached to your body. While it might look a little overwhelming, this is in fact perfectly normal. All the tubes and drains will soon be removed with very little discomfort - most likely before you go home.

What will the stoma be like? Will it hurt?

No two stoma’s look exactly the same. Your stoma may stick out from your stomach or it may be flat or flush with the skin and they can vary in colour from light pink to bright red. Because of the colour, it might "look like it hurts" however, on the contrary, there are no sensitive nerves in the stoma. The tissue is similar to the inside of your mouth, and touching it feels about the same – soft, warm and a little moist.

Adjusting at home

While in the hospital, your Stomal Therapy Nurse will show you how to change and empty your pouch. Some people may find it helpful to involve a family member or carer so they can learn with you. They can help you remember what you were taught once you get home. When it is time for you to leave the hospital it is a good idea to make arrangements with your family or friends to be available for support in the first few days after you come home.

If you have any concerns when you get home, contact your Stomal Therapy Nurse or your Coloplast Care team.